Oi! You Qantas Mob Smarten Yourself Up!
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In the Australian
Its all about cost cuting and saving money! yeah right, have a look at what appeared this morning.
*****PETER Cosgrove's transition from celebrity soldier to businessman has got off to a flying start, with the newly retired general being appointed yesterday to the board of Qantas.
The $100,000-a-year-plus job as a non-executive director is the beginning of what pundits predict will be a lucrative corporate career for the country's best-known former soldier.
In addition to the $100,000 annual wage, he can earn $20,000 for each board he sits on or an additional $40,000 if he chairs a committee
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jobs for the boys! what do we get for this amount of money.
*****PETER Cosgrove's transition from celebrity soldier to businessman has got off to a flying start, with the newly retired general being appointed yesterday to the board of Qantas.
The $100,000-a-year-plus job as a non-executive director is the beginning of what pundits predict will be a lucrative corporate career for the country's best-known former soldier.
In addition to the $100,000 annual wage, he can earn $20,000 for each board he sits on or an additional $40,000 if he chairs a committee
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jobs for the boys! what do we get for this amount of money.
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If nothing else, as Lead Balloon suggests, he can open doors in Parliament House, pulls influence and is an imposing figure on the tube. Some people get paid a lot more for doing less (but not me). I'm sure he'll be offered other positions with other boards too. Nice retirement if you can get it. Good luck to him and a wise choice by Qantas.
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he is exactly what QF needs on the board! somone who is bum chummies with little Johhny, and whoever is to be the new transport minister for QF!! he is there purely to win over the new minister.
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How disappointing
This celibrated soldier and leader already derided by the arm chair generals
. He is a General!! Take a look at yourselves guys and girls. How many of you have lead a UN intervention into a foreign country with such success? He is educated and successful!!
His success or failure in this new endeavour should not be pre-judged. Before you start throwing stones look at your own achievements
, what makes you so sure he won't succeed? You don't need to be a qualified pilot with an ATPL and 10000hrs to run an airline. He ran many airlines (and military ops) whilst in Timor!! Your comments say more about you than this great Australian. And yes I know General Cosgrove and I have had the privilege to work for him (as some of my contemporaries). I wish him well and I hope that some of those out there won't sabotage his influence
I have trolled through PPRuNe since the middle to late '90s and I remember those that said that Virgin would never get off the ground! I see now that most are sad, bitter, uninformed men and women who would rather denigrate than celibrate.
I wish Genral Cosgrove all the best with QANTAS, the ADF will be poorer for his departure and the men and women of QANTAS the richer.
I have already said too much and must have had too much red wine as I would normally let this kind of slur pass by but I feel that General Cosgrove should be given the benefit of the doubt before you sharpen your knives!
This celibrated soldier and leader already derided by the arm chair generals . He is a General!! Take a look at yourselves guys and girls. How many of you have lead a UN intervention into a foreign country with such success? He is educated and successful!!His success or failure in this new endeavour should not be pre-judged. Before you start throwing stones look at your own achievements
, what makes you so sure he won't succeed? You don't need to be a qualified pilot with an ATPL and 10000hrs to run an airline. He ran many airlines (and military ops) whilst in Timor!! Your comments say more about you than this great Australian. And yes I know General Cosgrove and I have had the privilege to work for him (as some of my contemporaries). I wish him well and I hope that some of those out there won't sabotage his influence I have trolled through PPRuNe since the middle to late '90s and I remember those that said that Virgin would never get off the ground! I see now that most are sad, bitter, uninformed men and women who would rather denigrate than celibrate.
I wish Genral Cosgrove all the best with QANTAS, the ADF will be poorer for his departure and the men and women of QANTAS the richer.
I have already said too much and must have had too much red wine as I would normally let this kind of slur pass by but I feel that General Cosgrove should be given the benefit of the doubt before you sharpen your knives!
Howard,
How dare you say that about our next President! 
I find it a little perplexing, that Australian boards are littered with people who have made a name for themselves, in areas other than the area which comes under their directorship.
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Cosgrove marches on to the Qantas board
Crikey Daily - Wednesday, 6 July
Qantas has taken the "gunboat" route to fix up its security problems by appointing the just-retired defence force chief, General Peter Cosgrove, to its board. His appointment was announced this morning by Qantas chairman and networker par excellence, "Dame" Margaret Jackson.
Cosgrove only stepped down late last week and will take up the Qantas gig from today, which is unusually quick, so negotiations presumably began while he was still working out his three-year contract, which was worth $420,000 a year.
Having notched up 40 years of service in the ADF, Cosgrove will be on one of those fabulous defence pensions which explain about two-thirds of the federal government's $90 billion unfunded superannuation black hole.
As a Qantas director he'll get a base of $100,000 a year, plus $20,000 for each board sub-committee he joins or $40,000 if he chairs a committee.
Then you have the dozens of free flights that are available for directors, specified executives and their beneficiaries, which are only revealed obliquely in the annual report through the FBT that Qantas incurs.
For instance, "Dame" Margaret gets a hefty $400,000 in cash for chairing Qantas, but the annual report notes she got $92,656 in "non-cash benefits" last year and $9,300 in "post employment travel benefits," bringing the total to almost $500,000.
Qantas now has one of the most powerful boards in the country which includes James Packer and former BHP CEO Paul Anderson. But this latest appointment looks like a sensible move.
Jackson is already very close to the PM, having reportedly knocked back the offer to be Australia's first female governor general a few years back. Having lost the minister for Qantas, John Anderson, the national airline's powerful federal lobbying team will be strengthened by having the prime minister's favourite soldier on board.
While General Cosgrove doesn't hail from the air force, his leadership skills, knowledge of often-botched defence procurement deals, government contacts and general defence expertise will be invaluable to Qantas in the present heightened security environment.
It's about time Australian business and the defence force started working more closely as this has been a hallmark of the American system for years.
The recent appointment of retired DFAT secretary Ashton Calvert to the Rio Tinto board is another example of this at work and various businesses with large operations in the US should be knocking on the door of Michael Thawley, who has just completed a successful five-year stint as Australia's ambassador in Washington.
Crikey Daily - Wednesday, 6 July
Qantas has taken the "gunboat" route to fix up its security problems by appointing the just-retired defence force chief, General Peter Cosgrove, to its board. His appointment was announced this morning by Qantas chairman and networker par excellence, "Dame" Margaret Jackson.
Cosgrove only stepped down late last week and will take up the Qantas gig from today, which is unusually quick, so negotiations presumably began while he was still working out his three-year contract, which was worth $420,000 a year.
Having notched up 40 years of service in the ADF, Cosgrove will be on one of those fabulous defence pensions which explain about two-thirds of the federal government's $90 billion unfunded superannuation black hole.
As a Qantas director he'll get a base of $100,000 a year, plus $20,000 for each board sub-committee he joins or $40,000 if he chairs a committee.
Then you have the dozens of free flights that are available for directors, specified executives and their beneficiaries, which are only revealed obliquely in the annual report through the FBT that Qantas incurs.
For instance, "Dame" Margaret gets a hefty $400,000 in cash for chairing Qantas, but the annual report notes she got $92,656 in "non-cash benefits" last year and $9,300 in "post employment travel benefits," bringing the total to almost $500,000.
Qantas now has one of the most powerful boards in the country which includes James Packer and former BHP CEO Paul Anderson. But this latest appointment looks like a sensible move.
Jackson is already very close to the PM, having reportedly knocked back the offer to be Australia's first female governor general a few years back. Having lost the minister for Qantas, John Anderson, the national airline's powerful federal lobbying team will be strengthened by having the prime minister's favourite soldier on board.
While General Cosgrove doesn't hail from the air force, his leadership skills, knowledge of often-botched defence procurement deals, government contacts and general defence expertise will be invaluable to Qantas in the present heightened security environment.
It's about time Australian business and the defence force started working more closely as this has been a hallmark of the American system for years.
The recent appointment of retired DFAT secretary Ashton Calvert to the Rio Tinto board is another example of this at work and various businesses with large operations in the US should be knocking on the door of Michael Thawley, who has just completed a successful five-year stint as Australia's ambassador in Washington.
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Ahh, Ex-military personnel running commercial airlines. Not a nice time ahead for employess of the "rED rAT"
Unfortunately ex-miltary people start employment assuming they know everything and then some.
IMHO ex-miltary experience is a handicap not an advantage to employment and a reality check is quickly required for them to adapt and change.
Unfortunately ex-miltary people start employment assuming they know everything and then some.
IMHO ex-miltary experience is a handicap not an advantage to employment and a reality check is quickly required for them to adapt and change.
Sprucegoose
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It seems the good general has another position to add to his already impressive resume!!
Courtesy of the Deloitte website:
Peter Cosgrove joins Deloitte
Published: 08/7/05
General Peter Cosgrove AC MC has been appointed as a consultant to professional services firm, Deloitte, effective 1 July.
"We are delighted that Peter has joined Deloitte as a consultant, where he will be working with our senior executive team. He will also be helping with Deloitte’s leadership development and his involvement will help us fast track our young leaders," said Mr Giam Swiegers, CEO of Deloitte Australia.
See the full story here!!
Cheers, HH.
Courtesy of the Deloitte website:
Peter Cosgrove joins Deloitte
Published: 08/7/05
General Peter Cosgrove AC MC has been appointed as a consultant to professional services firm, Deloitte, effective 1 July.
"We are delighted that Peter has joined Deloitte as a consultant, where he will be working with our senior executive team. He will also be helping with Deloitte’s leadership development and his involvement will help us fast track our young leaders," said Mr Giam Swiegers, CEO of Deloitte Australia.
See the full story here!!
Cheers, HH.
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It is very interesting indeed to hear the knockers of General Cosgroves appointment to the Qantas board.
Given that the majority of these knockers are obviously try hard wannabees with no aviation or business experience I take little note of their opinions. Stick to the aero club and MS flight simulator.
To the others, the reason that General Cosgrove has been appointed to the Qantas board is his extensive experience in security, procurement, leadership as well as his extensive contacts within government and the image he brings to the Qantas brand.
Given that the majority of these knockers are obviously try hard wannabees with no aviation or business experience I take little note of their opinions. Stick to the aero club and MS flight simulator.
To the others, the reason that General Cosgrove has been appointed to the Qantas board is his extensive experience in security, procurement, leadership as well as his extensive contacts within government and the image he brings to the Qantas brand.
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the whole board thing is a total crock, seriously...what is happening to the world? The disparity that exists between what is perceived as necessary and its net worth, as opposed to the value returned to those who really keep the company in existence.
What's Happening to the World
Unfortunately - Perception is Reality.
I think that the real problem people on this forum are having with people commenting in the negative on Cosgrove's appointment is that by implication anyone ex-military or public service is not qualified for truly running a business. So if you are ex-military, like Cosgrove, you too are tarred with the same brush!
Ask any punter the following - who was the last top-dog at the Defence Department, before Cosgrove?
Q. Why don't they know?
A. Because the last guy didn't tie himself to the political process and the media and didn't abuse his position to be a shameless self promoter.
So what are these Companies getting? Good PR for cheap. No serious person is going to believe that Cosgrove will offer deep insight with his "leadership and ANZAC spirit" into well established firms. What he will offer is a "trusted voice" to the punters when a nasty needs to be announced. Qantas has done the right thing for its shareholders in this regard.
I think that the real problem people on this forum are having with people commenting in the negative on Cosgrove's appointment is that by implication anyone ex-military or public service is not qualified for truly running a business. So if you are ex-military, like Cosgrove, you too are tarred with the same brush!
Ask any punter the following - who was the last top-dog at the Defence Department, before Cosgrove?
Q. Why don't they know?
A. Because the last guy didn't tie himself to the political process and the media and didn't abuse his position to be a shameless self promoter.
So what are these Companies getting? Good PR for cheap. No serious person is going to believe that Cosgrove will offer deep insight with his "leadership and ANZAC spirit" into well established firms. What he will offer is a "trusted voice" to the punters when a nasty needs to be announced. Qantas has done the right thing for its shareholders in this regard.
Sprucegoose
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Given that the majority of these knockers are obviously try hard wannabees with no aviation or business experience I take little note of their opinions. Stick to the aero club and MS flight simulator.
Cheers, HH.
NB: An opinion is merely that, an OPINION, it is neither right nor wrong, it is not a factual account of events.
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The world is full of experts cannot understand why you knockers are not on these boards, lots of self proclaimed experiences but hey "your not understood are you" think that means not bloody capable give the guy a go and no I will not bother to read and respond to your upcomming bull.
What are the appropriate criticism credentials for an anonymous forum?
Rocket Boy!
I do sit on a board and have seen good and bad (myself included).
I stand by my inference that a recent ex-military type is not a particularly savvy business type on the whole. For Qantas' sake let us hope he is the exception. Being ex-military myself, I know how long it took me to reset my brain after only a few years of indoctrination into the milk fed life of a soldier.
BTW. "Your not understood" is a different statement to "You're not understood". This is an example of the type of ex-military grammar that would be funny if it weren't tragic. It's okay for me to have a go at you because, you won't be reading my reply, will you?
I do sit on a board and have seen good and bad (myself included).
I stand by my inference that a recent ex-military type is not a particularly savvy business type on the whole. For Qantas' sake let us hope he is the exception. Being ex-military myself, I know how long it took me to reset my brain after only a few years of indoctrination into the milk fed life of a soldier.
BTW. "Your not understood" is a different statement to "You're not understood". This is an example of the type of ex-military grammar that would be funny if it weren't tragic. It's okay for me to have a go at you because, you won't be reading my reply, will you?
Sprucegoose
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Maybe he could introduce "bastardization" to the Qantas ranks
Cheers, HH.